Draw gave us real belief for next Euro trip

Experience proved pivotal for Saints

moment almost arrived shortly after the interval.

Liam Craig, now second in the club’s all-time appearance list, won possession and pulled the ball back perfectly for Nigel Hasselbaink.

The timing of his run into the box was sublime but his powerful first-time effort was saved brilliantly by Eskisehirspor goalkeeper Ruud Boffin.

Often you can be punished when missing a chance of this description and so it heartbreakingly proved three minutes later when the tie was ultimately put to bed.

Former Celtic attacker

Diomansy Kamara broke down the left and his low cross bobbled into the path of Veysel Sari who slotted home at the back post.

Saints continued to push and Craig was twice denied, first in a one-on-one situation before his curling free-kick was tipped over the crossbar.

The reality was that three goals were now required and even the most optimistic within the home support realised the European flame was slowly burning out.

Cregg, who played the full game, remembers the feeling of walking off the park at fulltime. He believed this was a big opportunity missed.

“If we were a little braver in the first leg, it would’ve set us up nicely. We probably should’ve scored over there,” Cregg said.

“I’d only signed for the club and my competitive debut was the game in Turkey.

“The inexperience probably killed us.

“Before the game in Turkey we probably didn’t have the belief that we would get something.

“We probably gave them too much respect. It was the first time for a lot of the lads ever playing a European game and they had a huge budget.

“It was into the unknown but when we got them back to

McDiarmid Park we definitely thought we could win.”

Cregg believes that 1-1 draw in Perth provided a platform for future success. In the 2013/14 campaign, Saints knocked heavily-fancied Norwegian side Rosenborg out the competition before, in 2014, Swiss outfit FC Luzern were sent packing.

“It probably did set us up well for the following year in Europe,” Cregg said. “We got drawn against Rosenborg but there genuinely was a belief that we’d go over there and win.

“A lot of people thought that was nonsense talk. We had a lot of good players and a lot of experience. The older lads were hungry for it.”

One of those ‘older’ lads had previously been full-back Davidson, now the club’s new manager.

“Callum Davidson, what a player,” said Cregg, who is assistant at St Patrick’s Athletic.

“You don’t realise how good he is until you play with him.

“I text Cal the odd time in relation to getting advice.

“I met him over the Christmas period to have a chat with him about my role. I’m inexperienced and he was very helpful.

“I think he will do well and I wish him all the best.”